Caught Up

Going through and seeing how many blogs had missing pictures was annoying to say the least. Being the type of person that prefers to have a plan B, the grey matter was put to work. So, I made a copy of the entire blog. Every single post. Just in case. 

I used Opera's blog for a long time. I loved it! All these years later I still miss it. Granted at that point, blogging in this format was really at its apex. Before video took over everything. One of my regrets was not copying everything before they took it down. That won't happen again. 

After all this is on a Google owned site. And we all know we can't trust them not to just trash it at a moment's notice. Or worse, try to revamp it. Look what happened to Google Music. A wonderful service that was absolutely trashed when it was forced into YouTube Music. Years later, and still not at the same level. Or the more recent sale of Domains to another service. At least it wasn't to GoDaddy, but I have my doubts as to how well that service will work for my needs as well.

I've been a pro-google guy for a long time. However, I'm finding that in question more and more these days. It may be time for a change. A new season of life is coming. 

Archive what?

 As I'm know many others have gotten the same, I received that email about Google Album Archive being shuttered. I was like, "ok, so what?" I don't recall ever using it. But just in case, I took a look just to make sure. You know what was there? Every photo posted to this blog! And only the photo's I've used in it!

That's right, every single one of them looking me square in the eye! So I took a look at the blog and found that going back to my oldest posts that the pictures don't load! Now there could be a number of reasons. But it's a bit alarming. Does this mean that when that service gets shuttered next month that all of the pics in the blog will go away too? I don't believe in coincidence. 

On the bright side, it's not the only place I have them. Those are just copies. Have you looked to see what's in yours?

They almost had me

Sitting down to write, I'm in a dilemma. I've had a personal, and other blogs running on Blogger since January 2013. Prior to that I was utilizing Opera, which unfortunately shut down. Now, don't get me wrong, Blogger has been a good tool. However, I've noticed that views have dropped dramatically since Google+ was shuttered. And has continued to decline ever since. I'm also realize that people are turning to things like YouTube and Rumble more and more.

Now, when you try to research online, everything is saying that blogging is still relevant. I find myself questioning this though. Could it be Blogger and of course the algorithm that chases the almighty dollar. Another possibility. If so, then another reason to stop using the google owned platform.

Then there's the comfort factor. It's been my writing outlet for over a decade! So, if blogging is relevant, and the platform is still a good one then the questions need to be changed. What happened that caused high viewership to drop? And how do I find new people that would be interested in what I write? A change is needed somewhere.

I do feel that the second question is the most important of the two either way. A lot of what you come across pushes hard on sharing on social media. Here's the reality of it though. Nobody there cares. They may be well meaning, but just like trying to run a business, let's be honest. People are there for memes and videos. Anything else is a waste of their time. The blogging and writer groups, and there is a plethora of them, have become a joke as well. Many just littered with clickbait. The rest all trying to sell something. The vast majority blanket anything of value, anything worth reading, so deep you can't find it. 

So I looked at WordPress. I have to admit that they offer quite a bit. However, after looking through it, I'm not overly impressed. It's well laid out, and in such a way that it makes their marketing so tempting to sign up with. However, most of what they offer paying customers isn't being used. No, don't lie, those of you who are there only use certain things every time and with few exceptions what is being paid for versus used is an over payment by a large margin. It actually reminds me of Planet Fitness. Sure, you pay a certain amount, it looks really good, but it's set in a way that makes you not want to bother with it. Just subscribe and forget is how it feels. 

Am I wrong? Should I give them a second go? 

Blogging Return

 Blogging Return

    I've been debating a return to blogging. For a while it seemed like every time I'd start to write, something would pull me away! Look! Squirrel! 

    Oh, but I've been writing. That's the thing. Only about something different than what I'd put up here over the years. You see I've been writing sermons. Times have changed and so have I in a lot of ways. Growth is good though. Now, where can they be read? Well, nowhere and everywhere. You see I started a Podcast specifically for my ministry. If you're interested, feel free to check it out. It's called "Healing Scars with Pastor Burton" and is available to stream on a ton of platforms. Spotify, IHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Deezer, RSS.com, Amazon Music, Audible, and so many more. 

    The first episode was put out just before the new year. Here in a couple of weeks, it's actually going to be a solid 6 months running, with at least 1 new episode posted every Friday. Watching the analytics has been fun because I'm seeing more and more countries pop up as well. As of this writing, it's been listened to on every continent except Antartica. It would be sweet to see, however that may be a bit ambitious. Time will tell though. I've actually thought about taking those sermons, and creating a blog just to post them in. Not everyone listens to podcasts after all. It's interesting that that's the platform that's being used as I rarely listen to podcasts myself! Perhaps, I should turn on a camera when I'm recording and start posting to YouTube as well? Or Rumble even? 

    I logged in here and was surprised to see so many people keep checking in from time to time too. Blogging isn't dead! YAY! 

    Have you ever looked back on your own blog to see how you've changed over the years? I used to cuss a lot, drink, and smoke (tobacco), and that's all turned around. Well, let's be honest, I still cuss but not nearly as much, and rarely drink. When I do it's at home. Thanks for letting me ramble today. 

~B

Hindsight

     You know, hindsight likes to taunt you sometimes. I recently started a podcast. A believe me, a blog voice is easier to find than a vlog/podcast voice is. I already have material recorded and scheduled to post. Then it hit me...I should have kept my old ministry blog. DOH! There was so much material there! What was I thinking?! Oh well.

    A lot of things are like that in life, aren't they? One day you're good. You're thinking you're doing the right thing. And let's face it, at that time it really was for the information you had. But in the future, POW! I won't if this is the kind of thing hoarders are prepping for. The whole, "I might need this one day" event. 

    Now I know not to do it again. Maybe I should start a new ministry blog and convert my podcast notes into something readable. Hmm. There's a thought. 

    In the meantime, you can check out the new podcast at: Healing Scars with Pastor Burton | RSS.com and tell me what you think! It's also available on over a dozen other podcast services right now. And about to be submitted to Apple for approval on their services as well. 

Life and Career Changes Part One

What's this? My last blog entries were New Years and 1/2 of 2015!?!?!?!?! Are you kidding me? No it's true. Holy cow does time fly when you're getting life back on track. And boy has it been a ride!

So this will be the update entry? Boooorrriiinng!It's an easy re-cap. Went back to school, and made a career change. Blah, Blah, Blah.

Yes! I left the world of the criminal justice system in the review mirror, and started working in health care. What an oxymoron of a name. Are their great people that care? Absolutely! But then they're leashed by greedy corporations, spineless administrators, and ignorant doctors (No real world smarts for many. Just what they've been spoon fed in their agenda pushing schools.) I'll say it here! Many, not all, doctor's are some of the dumbest smart people you'll ever meet! Get a nurse practitioner, you'll be better off. Nurses save lives, not doctors!

However, I have found the world of Hospice to be a true calling. Funny how even in a new career field I found myself dealing with death on the daily again. Now for some it's a scary place where people are dying. Not always the case! Many people do come improve and come off of hospice care. For some, it's just a way to get better funding from the insurance powers that be, to provide better care for people. That is the bottom line right? Get the best possible care? Sadly though, most don't come off of it. But the relationships you develop with both the patients and their families are amazing.

In just providing care in this area, I found something I'd been missing for years. The work that I was doing MADE A DIFFERENCE! The people I've formed relationships with and have cared for have given me a gift beyond anything you'd get elsewhere. A fresh breath of life. They've shared advise, past experiences, regrets, triumph's, failures, and even first love! While some have feared the end of life as we know it, and what's beyond that veil. Other's have embraced it, and let everyone around them know that they love them and will see them again when they go home.

I've seen things in my life that have given me chills. Nothing has gotten to me more than those who have said, "I'm going to die in 3 days." And then it happens! It's crazy! And for me it's re-affirmation of life after death. It's also drawn me closer to my ministry work.

A Writer That's Not A Writer

Writing. Seems a such a funny word. Writer. Even funnier. Author. Well that's downright unthinkable most of the time. I support all writers. Those who truly are, or aspire to be. To write is a gift. Not everyone has it. Some try, and like to call themselves writers, but truly are not. To put pen to paper, and create something is truly a special kind of magic. And like all things special, not everyone can have it. That's a part of what makes it special.

For me, there could be some irony that I am the one saying this. Why? Because I'm a talker, not a writer. It's not because I choose to be. It's because if I do indeed have that special magic, I haven't learned to harness it. You see, when I sit down for my blog, I talk it out in my head as though I'm having a conversation. Sometimes that conversation is directed to someone in particular, other times I'm simply talking to myself, and yet other times I'm talking for the sake of talking. So when you read my blog, you're reading a small part of the tornado of ideas that are being thrown around in my mind.

If I applied myself a little bit, I could throw some ink across the page and it would be a short poem. But while I like some poetry, I'm not a poet. I grew up surrounded by books. In my life I've read thousands. I have ideas for stories. One is a vast universe that lives, evolves, and pulses. But I can't put it to paper. I want to. I'd love to. It's a universe I believe at least some others would like. So why can't I? As I said before, I lack the magic.

Up until I sit down to write, I have a plan. People to introduce. Places to describe. Events from great to tragic. However, once I sit down an illness sets in. Everything gets jumbled together. It's no longer coherent. What was up is now down. What was hot is now cold. What what quite and peaceful is loud and overwhelming. No matter what I do, it never comes back together until I stop and walk away. Then the haze lifts. I've tried writing small parts, cards, memos, horrid pictures that don't remotely look as they should. When I was younger it wasn't as hard. I could wave my hand at the last minute, and the rabbit would just appear. Now that I want the rabbit to appear, it appears to have disappeared.

I have not lost hope. I chalk it up as just not being the right time. The time might come an hour from now, a day, a decade, a lifetime. It may not come at all. It could be a universe that only I am to be privy to. But for now I'll wait. I'll wait, and I'll talk, I'll joke, I'll sing, and I'll sleep on it. And one day, one day I'll not only find the magic, but the ability to use it. Until then, I'll talk and share the other things in my head. I'll be a writer, that's not a writer. Life is funny that way. Wouldn't you agree?